US3790101A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Combined transmit and receive terminal for pneumatic tube system
Assignee: Mosler Safe Co
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Filing: 1972-11-08
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Granted: 1974-02-05
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Expires: 1992-11-08
Abstract
Abstract A pneumatic tube system terminal including a) a receive chamber in which a received carrier, in the course of sliding or rolling over an underlying spring-biased flap, deflects the flap to seal the vacuum line which connects to the receive chamber, enabling opening of the receive chamber door normally closed by the vacuum, the flap once being deflected remaining so under the action of the vacuum in the line which is now sealed by the flap in its deflected position, and b) a transmit chamber connected to a pressure line, having an actuator linked to a valve in the vacuum line, which actuator (1) upon insertion of a carrier into the chamber for transmission is tripped to momentarily close the valve in the vacuum line, in turn releasing the spring-biased receive chamber flap, and (2) upon passage of the inserted carrier into the transmit tube opens the valve in the vacuum line to restore vacuum/pressure in the system and transmit the carrier.
Inventors
- 👤 A Weissmuller
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 23:59
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65G; B65G51/00; B65G51/04; B65G51/26
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
471 words
A combined transmit and receive terminal for use with a pneumatically transported carrier, comprising: a receiver having a receive chamber configured to contain a carrier received therein from a distant station via a pneumatic receive tube communicating therewith, a vacuum line communicating with said receive chamber, a flap in said receive chamber underlying a received carrier located therein, said flap being movable between a first position in which said vacuum line is unblocked at said receive chamber and a second position in which said vacuum line is blocked at said receive chamber, first means for biasing said flap to its first position to unblock said vacuum line prior to receipt of a carrier in said receive chamber atop said flap, said biasing means being inoperative to prevent said flap from moving to its vacuum line blocking position upon receipt of a carrier in said chamber atop said flap, said biasing means being further inoperative to return said flap to its unblocking position from its blocking position in the presence of vacuum in said vacuum line at said receive chamber, a transmitter having a transmit chamber into which a carrier can be inserted for transmission to a distant station via a pneumatic transmission tube communicating with said transmit chamber, said chamber having an opening therein through which a carrier can be introduced for insertion into said transmission tube, a closure for said opening and movable between a first position unblocking said opening upon insertion of a carrier therethrough and a second position blocking said opening, second means for biasing said closure to its second position, a valve member in said vacuum line movable between a first position unblocking said line wherein vacuum is present in said line at said receive chamber, and a second position blocking said line wherein vacuum is not present in said line at said receive chamber, a pressure line communicating with said transmit chamber, a blower having an air inlet and an air outlet connected to said vacuum and pressure lines, respectively, said blower being inoperative to produce pressure in said pressUre line when said vacuum line is unblocked, and means interconnecting said closure and valve member to position said valve member in its blocking position when said closure is in its unblocking position in response to insertion of a carrier in said opening for terminating vacuum in said vacuum line at said receive chamber and enabling said first bias means to return said flap to its normal position unblocking said vacuum line, said inter-connecting means being further operative to position said valve member in its unblocking position when said closure returns to its blocking position when said closure returns to its blocking position following insertion of a carrier through said opening for enabling said blower to apply pressure to said transmit chamber to transmit said inserted carrier.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
471 words
A combined transmit and receive terminal for use with a pneumatically transported carrier, comprising: a receiver having a receive chamber configured to contain a carrier received therein from a distant station via a pneumatic receive tube communicating therewith, a vacuum line communicating with said receive chamber, a flap in said receive chamber underlying a received carrier located therein, said flap being movable between a first position in which said vacuum line is unblocked at said receive chamber and a second position in which said vacuum line is blocked at said receive chamber, first means for biasing said flap to its first position to unblock said vacuum line prior to receipt of a carrier in said receive chamber atop said flap, said biasing means being inoperative to prevent said flap from moving to its vacuum line blocking position upon receipt of a carrier in said chamber atop said flap, said biasing means being further inoperative to return said flap to its unblocking position from its blocking position in the presence of vacuum in said vacuum line at said receive chamber, a transmitter having a transmit chamber into which a carrier can be inserted for transmission to a distant station via a pneumatic transmission tube communicating with said transmit chamber, said chamber having an opening therein through which a carrier can be introduced for insertion into said transmission tube, a closure for said opening and movable between a first position unblocking said opening upon insertion of a carrier therethrough and a second position blocking said opening, second means for biasing said closure to its second position, a valve member in said vacuum line movable between a first position unblocking said line wherein vacuum is present in said line at said receive chamber, and a second position blocking said line wherein vacuum is not present in said line at said receive chamber, a pressure line communicating with said transmit chamber, a blower having an air inlet and an air outlet connected to said vacuum and pressure lines, respectively, said blower being inoperative to produce pressure in said pressUre line when said vacuum line is unblocked, and means interconnecting said closure and valve member to position said valve member in its blocking position when said closure is in its unblocking position in response to insertion of a carrier in said opening for terminating vacuum in said vacuum line at said receive chamber and enabling said first bias means to return said flap to its normal position unblocking said vacuum line, said inter-connecting means being further operative to position said valve member in its unblocking position when said closure returns to its blocking position when said closure returns to its blocking position following insertion of a carrier through said opening for enabling said blower to apply pressure to said transmit chamber to transmit said inserted carrier.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
The terminal of claim 1 wherein said receive chamber has a floor provided with a port which connects to said vacuum line, and wherein said flap overlies said floor, said flap being normally spaced above said floor by said first bias means to unblock said port and vacuum line and being movable downward under the weight of a received carrier to block said port and vacuum line.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
107 words
The terminal of claim 1 wherein said flap is mounted to be inclined when in its blocking position to enable said received carrier thereon to roll thereoff, and wherein said receiver has a pivotal door normally covering an opening in a side wall of said receive chamber, said door normally being maintained closed by vacuum applied to said receive chamber via said port when said flap is raised in the absence of a carrier on said flap, said door being released to enable pivotal motion thereof by said carrier to a position uncovering said opening as said carrier rolls off said flap through said receive chamber opening.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
53 words
The terminal of claim 3 wherein said door is pivotally connected along an upper edge thereof to said receiver to enable said door to close under the force of gravity subsequent to receipt of a carrier which has rolled off said flap and out of said receive chamber through said receive chamber opening.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
59 words
The terminal of claim 3 wherein said receiver is located above said transmitter and wherein said transmitter has a ceiling including a first section adjacent said receiver floor exteriorly of said receiver side wall opening for supporting exteriorly of said receiver a received carrier which has rolled off said inclined flap and out said receiver opening through said door.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
392 words
A combined transmit and receive terminal for use with a pneumatically transported carrier, comprising: a receiver having a receive chamber configured to contain a carrier received therein from a distant station via a pneumatic receive tube communicating therewith, a vacuum line communicating with said receive chamber, a flap in said receive chamber underlying a received carrier located therein, said flap being movable between a first position in which said vacuum line is unblocked at said receive chamber and a second position in which said vacuum line is blocked at said receive chamber, first means for biasing said flap to its first position to unblock said vacuum line prior to receipt of a carrier in said receive chamber atop said flap, said biasing means being inoperative to prevent said flap from moving to its vacuum line blocking position upon receipt of a carrier in said chamber atop said flap, said biasing means being further inoperative to return said flap to its unblocking position from its blocking position in the presence of vacuum in said vacuum line at said receive chamber, a transmitter having a pneumatic transmission tube provided with a mouth into which a carrier can be inserted for transmission to a distant station when pressure is applied to said mouth, a pressure line to apply pressure to said mouth, a valve member in said vacuum line movable between a first position unblocking said line wherein vacuum is present in said vacuum line at said receive chambeR, and a second position blocking said vacuum line wherein vacuum is not present in said vacuum line at said receive chamber, a blower having an air inlet and an outlet connected to said vacuum and pressure lines, respectively, said blower being inoperative to produce pressure in said pressure line when said vacuum line is unblocked, and actuating means to position said valve member in its blocking position in response to a carrier being inserted into said transmitter for terminating vacuum in said vacuum line at said receive chamber and enabling said first bias means to return said flap to its normal position unblocking said vacuum line, said actuating means being further operative to position said valve member in its unblocking position when said carrier has been inserted into said transmission tube for enabling said blower to apply pressure to said transmitter to transmit said inserted carrier.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
392 words
A combined transmit and receive terminal for use with a pneumatically transported carrier, comprising: a receiver having a receive chamber configured to contain a carrier received therein from a distant station via a pneumatic receive tube communicating therewith, a vacuum line communicating with said receive chamber, a flap in said receive chamber underlying a received carrier located therein, said flap being movable between a first position in which said vacuum line is unblocked at said receive chamber and a second position in which said vacuum line is blocked at said receive chamber, first means for biasing said flap to its first position to unblock said vacuum line prior to receipt of a carrier in said receive chamber atop said flap, said biasing means being inoperative to prevent said flap from moving to its vacuum line blocking position upon receipt of a carrier in said chamber atop said flap, said biasing means being further inoperative to return said flap to its unblocking position from its blocking position in the presence of vacuum in said vacuum line at said receive chamber, a transmitter having a pneumatic transmission tube provided with a mouth into which a carrier can be inserted for transmission to a distant station when pressure is applied to said mouth, a pressure line to apply pressure to said mouth, a valve member in said vacuum line movable between a first position unblocking said line wherein vacuum is present in said vacuum line at said receive chambeR, and a second position blocking said vacuum line wherein vacuum is not present in said vacuum line at said receive chamber, a blower having an air inlet and an outlet connected to said vacuum and pressure lines, respectively, said blower being inoperative to produce pressure in said pressure line when said vacuum line is unblocked, and actuating means to position said valve member in its blocking position in response to a carrier being inserted into said transmitter for terminating vacuum in said vacuum line at said receive chamber and enabling said first bias means to return said flap to its normal position unblocking said vacuum line, said actuating means being further operative to position said valve member in its unblocking position when said carrier has been inserted into said transmission tube for enabling said blower to apply pressure to said transmitter to transmit said inserted carrier.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US861375A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-02-04 | 1977-08-06 | 1978-02-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-02-04 | 1981-08-06 | 1982-02-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-02-04 | 1985-08-06 | 1986-02-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |